When former Beatles member, Sir Paul McCartney, went to India in 2012 he encountered Sunder; a 14-year old performance elephant. Sunder showed definite signs of abuse including physical ailments such as, facial injuries of the ear and eyes, and scars covering it’s massive body. In addition to lacerations, this helpless being was shackled up at a shed at the Jyotiba Temple and had limited movement.

Driven by his passion for animal rights, McCartney wrote a letter to the Indian Forest Minister urging him to free the animal.

This lead to viral online petitioning for Sunder’s freedom, which encouraged a supposed release of the elephant from shed to wildlife refuge.

However, in a recent investigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), it was learned that Sunder was not only kept in chains once more, but was confined to a smaller shack where the elephant was unable to lie down. In a video taken by members of PETA, Sunder was being beaten by handlers and looked ill.

According to an interview, PETA director of veterinary affairs, Dr. Manilal Valliyate said Sunder had been seen “writhing in pain and struggling to stand as the mahout (handler) strikes him repeatedly. Sunder visibly recoils in fear from the weapon-wielding mahout, who continues to threaten him with violence after he has stood.”

I urge all those reading to contact the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests and speak on behalf of Sunder. His contact info is below:

Kumar Sanjeev, Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests, at psmos-mef@nc.in